Device for and method of recording information

ABSTRACT

A device for recording data and data structures on a write-once storage medium. The device has writing means for recording the data and the data structures and controlling means for generating the data structures and controlling the writing means. The data structures comprise space bit map and defect management structures. The controlling means are adapted to record the data structures at a predefined temporary location on the write-once storage medium and to finalize the write-once storage medium by recording the data structures at a predefined fixed location as defined for a rewritable storage medium.

This application claims the benefit or priority of and describesrelationships between the following applications: wherein thisapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/434,194, filed May 1, 2009, which is a division of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/552,776, filed Oct. 12, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.8,125,866, issued Feb. 28, 2012, which is the National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/ IB2004/050409, filed Apr. 8, 2004,which claims the priority of foreign application EP03076087.0 filed Apr.14, 2003, all of which are incorporated herein in whole by reference.

The invention relates to a device for recording data and data structureson a write-once storage medium, the data structures comprising space bitmap and defect management structures, the device comprising

writing means for recording the data and the data structures;

controlling means for generating the data structures and controlling thewriting means.

The invention further relates to a method of recording data and datastructures on a write-once storage medium, the data structurescomprising space bit map and defect management structures, the methodcomprising step of recording the data.

The invention also relates to a write-once storage medium for storingdata and data structures, the data structures comprising space bit mapand defect management structures.

The invention further relates to a computer program product forrecording data and data structures on a write-once storage medium, thedata structures comprising space bit map and defect managementstructures.

In some applications (archiving, legal) it is important that arecordable, write-once (WO) disc can be “finalized”, where the effect ofthe finalization is that any further recording of the disc is notpossible or that it can be easily detected or proven that more data hasbeen added after the finalization process.

For CD-R and DVD±R this is achieved by recording a Lead-out Area, whicharea “closes” the User Data Zone. Although in some cases it might bepossible to write additional information to the disc after the Lead-outArea, this can be easily detected.

Recordable Blu-ray Disc (BD-WO) in principle does not have such aLead-out Area. As an alternative the disc could be completely filledwith all dummy data, however this can be very time-consuming

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple,time-saving way of finalizing a write-once storage medium.

This object is achieved, according to a first aspect of the invention,by a device for recording data and data structures of the type describedin the opening paragraph, characterized in that the controlling meansare adapted to record the data structures at a predefined temporarylocation in a reserved area on the write-once storage medium and tofinalize the write-once storage medium by recording the data structuresat a predefined fixed location as defined for a rewritable storagemedium.

According to a second aspect of the invention a method of recording dataand data structures of the type described in the opening paragraph isprovided, characterized by steps of:

-   -   recording the data structures at a predefined temporary location        in a reserved area on the write-once storage medium;    -   finalizing the write-once storage medium by recording the data        structures at a predefined fixed location as defined for a        rewritable storage medium.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from andelucidated further with reference to the embodiments described by way ofexample in the following description and with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 a shows a storage medium (top view),

FIG. 1 b shows a storage medium (cross section),

FIG. 2 shows a device for recording information, in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a layout of a BD-WO disc, in accordance withthe invention.

Corresponding elements in different Figures have identical referencenumerals.

FIG. 1 a shows an example of a storage medium 11 having a form of discwith a track 9 and a central hole 10. The track 9, being the position ofthe series of (to be) recorded marks representing information (data), isarranged in accordance with a spiral pattern of turns constitutingsubstantially parallel tracks on an information layer. The storagemedium may be optically readable, called an optical disc, and has aninformation layer of a recordable type. Examples of a recordable discare the CD-R, and writable versions of DVD, such as DVD±R, and the highdensity writable optical disc using blue lasers, called Blu-ray Disc(BD). The information (data) is represented on the information layer byrecording optically detectable marks along the track. The track 9 on therecordable type of storage medium is indicated by a pre-embossed trackstructure provided during manufacture of the blank storage medium. Thetrack structure is constituted, for example, by a pregroove 14, whichenables a read/write head to follow the track during scanning. The trackstructure comprises position information, e.g. addresses, for indicationthe location of units of information, usually called information blocks.

FIG. 1 b is a cross-section taken along the line b-b of the storagemedium 11 of the recordable type, in which a transparent substrate 15 isprovided with a recording layer 16 and a protective layer 17. Theprotective layer 17 may comprise a further substrate layer, for exampleas in DVD where the recording layer is at a 0.6 mm substrate and afurther substrate of 0.6 mm is bonded to the back side thereof. Thepregroove 14 may be implemented as an indentation or an elevation of thesubstrate 15 material, or as a material property deviating from itssurroundings.

FIG. 2 shows a device for recording data and data structures on astorage medium 11 such as CD-R, DVD±R or BD, in accordance with theinvention. The device is provided with writing means for scanning thetrack on the storage medium, which means include a drive unit 21 forrotating the storage medium 11, a head 22, and a positioning unit 25 forcoarsely positioning the head 22 in the radial direction on the track.The head 22 comprises an optical system of a known type for generating aradiation beam 24 guided through optical elements focused to a radiationspot 23 on a track of the information layer of the storage medium. Theradiation beam 24 is generated by a radiation source, e.g. a laserdiode. The head further comprises (not shown) a focusing actuator formoving the focus of the radiation beam 24 along the optical axis of saidbeam and a tracking actuator for fine positioning of the spot 23 in aradial direction on the center of the track. The tracking actuator maycomprise coils for radially moving an optical element or mayalternatively be arranged for changing the angle of a reflectingelement. For writing information (data) the radiation is controlled tocreate optically detectable marks in the recording layer. The marks maybe in any optically readable form, e.g. in the form of areas with areflection coefficient different from their surroundings, obtained whenrecording in materials such as dye, alloy or phase change material, orin the form of areas with a direction of magnetization different fromtheir surroundings, obtained when recording in magneto-optical material.For reading the radiation reflected by the information layer is detectedby a detector of a usual type, e.g. a four-quadrant diode, in the head22 for generating a read signal and further detector signals including atracking error and a focusing error signal for controlling said trackingand focusing actuators. The read signal is processed by read processingunit 30 of a usual type including a demodulator, deformatter and outputunit to retrieve the information (data). Hence retrieving means forreading information include the drive unit 21, the head 22, thepositioning unit 25 and the read processing unit 30. The devicecomprises write processing means for processing the input information(data) to generate a write signal to drive the head 22, which meanscomprise an input unit 27, and modulator means comprising a formatter 28and a modulator 29. The input information (data) may comprise forexample real-time video and/or audio data or still images data. Theinput unit 27 processes the input data to unit of information, which arepassed to the formatter 28 for adding control data and formatting thedata, e.g. by adding error correction codes (ECC) and/or interleaving.For computer applications units of information may be interfaced to theformatter 28 directly—in such case, as an option, the input unit 27 doesnot have to be present in the device. The formatted data from the outputof the formatter 28 is passed to the modulation unit 29, which comprisesfor example a channel coder, for generating a modulated signal, whichdrives the head 22. Further the modulation unit 29 comprisessynchronizing means for including synchronizing patterns in themodulated signal. The formatted units presented to the input of themodulation unit 29 comprise address information and are written tocorresponding addressable locations on the storage medium under thecontrol of control unit 20. Further, the device comprises the controlunit 20, which controls the recording and retrieving of information andmay be arranged for receiving commands from a user or from a hostcomputer. The control unit 20 is connected via control lines 26, e.g. asystem bus, to said input unit 27, formatter 28 and modulator 29, to theread processing unit 30, and to the drive unit 21, and the positioningunit 25. The control unit 20 comprises control circuitry, for example amicroprocessor, a program memory and control gates, for performing theprocedures and functions according to the invention as described below.The control unit 20 may also be implemented as a state machine in logiccircuits.

It is noted that the device as shown in FIG. 2 has recording andreproducing functions. Alternatively a playback device for onlyretrieving information from a record carrier contains the scanningelements and the read processing circuitry, but does not have the inputunit 27, the formatter 28 and the modulator 29.

For several reasons, BD-WO disc has a Space Bit Map (SBM). Such a SBMindicates which Error Correction Code (ECC) clusters have been recordedwith information and which are still free. This SBM can be integratedwith the Defect Management (DM) structures, which structures can becompatible with the same structures on a BD ReWritable (BD-RW) disc tomake implementation easier. But they can also be recorded somewhere elsee.g. in the lead-in area or lead-out area or user area. In the BD-RWspecification some areas are reserved and could be used by BD-WO forthis purpose, an example is a zone starting at Physical ADIP (ADress InPre-groove) Address (PAA) 01DC00h with a length 2048 clusters.

The control unit 20 can be adapted to generate the SBM and DM structuresand to control recording of those structures on a disc (a storagemedium).

The SBM, generated by the control unit 20, can be implemented in theform of a bitmap in which each bit in a byte of the map indicates thatan address (cluster) is written, for example if it is set to “1” and ifthe cluster is not written then the bit is zero.

The SBM can also include address pointers to indicate ranges of clustersthat have been recorded (more efficient in case of sequentialrecording).

On a BD-RW disc the DM structures can be overwritten and thus can beupdated after each recording action. The Defect Management Areas (DMAs),where these structures are recorded, therefore are rather small.

On a BD-WO disc overwriting is not possible, for which reason aTemporary Defect Management Area(s) (TDMA) can be reserved (this can beanywhere on the disc, e.g. in the Inner Zone as indicated in the FIG.3). After each additional recording action, all new information for theDM structures and the SBM are written, under control of the control unit20, in the next available ECC Cluster(s) of this TDMA. Because manyseparated recordings could be made, this TDMA should be as large aspossible.

FIG. 3 shows schematically a possible layout of a BD-WO dual layer disc,according to the invention; the single layer disc is the same as the LOlayer in this picture. BD-WO has a User Data Zone, which comprises tworeplacement areas used for defect management, called ISA0 and OSA in thefirst layer and ISA1 and OSA in the second layer. The Inner and OuterZone contain four defect management areas called INFO1, INFO2, INFO3 andINFO4; they are the same as the equivalent zones described in the BD-RWstandard. In layer 0 and 1 there is an area of 2048 clusters that isreserved in the BD-RW standard; it can be used for TDMA (TDMA0, TDMA1)for a BD-WO disc. At the outside (Outer Zone) of the disc there is areserved area in BD-RW that can be used in BD-WO as a intermediate DMA(IDMA) area (IDMA0, IDMA1). At the time of ejection of a disc from adevice for recording information, DM structures and the SBM in IDMA canbe copied, under control of the control unit 20, to TDMA. Locations ofIDMA and TDMA can be interchanged, i.e. IDMA can be located in InnerZone and TDMA in Outer Zone.

Both layers can have a OPC (Optimum Power Control) area used fordetecting the correct write powers of a laser, under control of thecontrol unit 20.

During the use of the BD-WO disc new clusters are written sequentiallyor randomly and the space bitmap (SBM) is updated, under control of thecontrol unit 20, in the TDMA area (TDMA0 or TDMA1) several times. Whenthe user decides to finalize the disc there maybe still unwritten arealeft on the disc. This invention shows how the disc can be closed insuch a way that it is possible to check afterwards which clusters wererecorded and which not at the moment of finalization.

At finalization the “normal” DMAs, i.e. as on a BD-RW disc, one copy ineach of INFO1, INFO2, INFO3 and INFO4 (see FIG. 3) are recorded, undercontrol of the control unit 20. These DMAs on a BD-WO disc shall containthe same kind of structures as on a BD-RW disc: a DDS (Disc DefinitionStructure) and a DFL (Defect List). These DMAs can be located at thesame positions as on a BD-RW disc. When these “normal” DMAs have beenrecorded, it indicates always that the disc has been finalized.

The DDS shall contain now address pointers to the last valid structuresin the TDMA just before the finalization, including the last valid SBM.The DDS can have also an address pointer to the last recorded address inthe Data Zone in case the disc is sequentially recorded.

By doing so, filling of the remainder of the disc is not needed. Ifadditional recordings have been made after finalization (so afterrecording of the “final” DDS in the DMAs in INFO1, INFO2, INFO3 andINFO4), this can be easily determined by inspecting, by the control unit20, the specific SBM pointed to by the DDS. This bitmap in the SBMclearly shows which cluster has been recorded and which have not beenrecorded, inspection of the status of all the clusters (written or not),by the control unit 20, then show if more clusters have been added(written) after the finalization.

This procedure also works on randomly written BD-WO discs (usuallywrite-once discs are recorded sequentially).

Another option is to fill all free TDMA area with dummy data atfinalization under control of the control unit 20. Now it is impossibleto record updates of the structures in the TDMA. The last DDS written inthe TDMA area then has the contents of the last written space bitmap andthe disc can be checked in the same way as explained above.

Yet another option for finalizing a BD-WO disc is to fill all remaining,i.e. not recorded, User Data Area with dummy data under control of thecontrol unit 20.

Although the invention has been explained mainly by embodiments usingthe BD-WO disc, similar embodiments are suitable for finalizing thestorage medium. Also for the storage medium an optical disc has beendescribed, but other media, such as a magneto-optical disc or magnetictape, can be used. It is noted, that in this document the word‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other elements or stepsthan those listed and the word ‘a’ or ‘an’ preceding an element does notexclude the presence of a plurality of such elements, that any referencesigns do not limit the scope of the claims, that the invention may beimplemented by means of both hardware and software, and that several‘means’ may be represented by the same item of hardware. Further, thescope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments, and theinvention lies in each and every novel feature or combination offeatures described above.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for recording data and datastructures on a write-once storage medium, the device comprising:writing means for recording the data and the data structures on themedium, the data structures comprising a space bit map and defectmanagement structures; controlling means for generating the datastructures and controlling the writing means; the controlling meansbeing configured to include in the space bit map address pointers toindicate ranges of clusters that have been recorded, and to record thedata structures at a predefined temporary location in a reserved area onthe write-once storage medium and afterwards to finalize the write-oncestorage medium, the finalizing including the recording of the datastructures at a predefined fixed location as defined for a rewritablestorage medium, the predefined fixed location being different than thepredefined temporary location.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thefinalizing includes writing dummy data in all free parts of the reservedarea and wherein the controlling means are configured to control thewriting means to record dummy data in all free parts of the reservedarea during the finalizing.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the devicefurther comprises reading means for reading data and data structuresfrom the media and wherein the controlling means are configured controlthe reading means to read the data structures from the predefinedtemporary location, and the finalization includes reading the datastructures from the predefined temporary location and immediatelyrecording the data structures at the predefined fixed location when thewrite-once storage medium is finalized.
 4. A method of recording dataand data structures on a write-once storage medium, the methodcomprising steps of: providing data structures comprising a space bitmap and defect management structures, the space bit map comprisingaddress pointers to indicate ranges of clusters that have been recorded;recording the data structures at a predefined temporary location in areserved area on the write-once storage medium; finalizing thewrite-once storage medium, the finalizing including recording the datastructures at a predefined fixed location as defined for a rewritablestorage medium.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the finalizingincludes recording dummy data in all free parts of the reserved area. 6.The method of claim 4, wherein the finalizing includes reading the datastructures from the predefined temporary location immediately prior torecording the data structures at a predefined fixed location.
 7. Awrite-once storage medium comprising data and data structures comprisingspace bit map and defect management structures to control reading datafrom the disc, wherein: the space bit map includes address pointers toindicate ranges of clusters that have been recorded, the data structuresare recorded at a predefined temporary location in a reserved area onthe write-once storage medium, and the write-once storage medium isfinalized by recording the data structures at a predefined fixedlocation as defined for a rewritable storage medium.
 8. A non-transitivecomputer readable medium encoded with instructions for controlling aprocessor for operating a method for recording data and data structureson a write-once storage medium, the data structures comprising space bitmap and defect management structures, the method comprising: providingin the space bit map address pointers to indicate ranges of clustersthat have been recorded; recording the data structures at a predefinedtemporary location in a reserved area on the write-once storage medium;finalizing the write-once storage medium, the finalizing includingrecording the data structures at a predefined fixed location as definedfor a rewritable storage medium.
 9. The medium of claim 7, wherein thefinalization of the write-once storage medium includes recording dummydata in all free parts of the reserved area.
 10. The device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the finalization includes reading the datastructures from the predefined temporary location and immediatelyrecording the data structures at the predefined fixed location.